Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK.
Norwich Business School, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK.
Nutrients. 2022 Apr 22;14(9):1745. doi: 10.3390/nu14091745.
Ecological studies often use supermarket location as a proxy measure of the food environment. In this study, we used data on sales at a leading mainstream supermarket chain to explore how area-level supermarket use is associated with overweight and obesity in English adults. Sales data were aggregated to local authority level and joined to a national dataset describing self-reported height and weight and fruit and vegetable consumption. Regression models showed a modest association between higher levels of unhealthy food sales relative to health food sales and increased odds of being overweight and obese. Although effect sizes were small, they persisted after adjustment for area-level deprivation. Supermarket sales data provide additional understanding in the study of food environments and their impact on increasing weight status. Future health policies should consider using 'big data' combined with other research methods to address the increasing consumption of unhealthy and highly processed foods.
生态研究经常使用超市位置作为食品环境的替代指标。在这项研究中，我们使用了一家领先的主流连锁超市的销售数据，来探讨地区层面的超市使用情况与英国成年人超重和肥胖的关系。销售数据汇总到地方当局一级，并与描述自我报告的身高和体重以及水果和蔬菜消费的全国性数据集相结合。回归模型显示，相对于健康食品销售，不健康食品销售水平较高与超重和肥胖的几率增加之间存在适度关联。虽然效应大小较小，但在调整了地区贫困水平后仍然存在。超市销售数据为食品环境及其对体重增加状况的影响的研究提供了更多的认识。未来的卫生政策应考虑使用“大数据”结合其他研究方法来解决不健康和高度加工食品消费的增加问题。
